itouchhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/3219/all
enBrainwave Starter Kit Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/brainwave_starter_kit_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/04/screen_11.png" width="620" height="463" /></p><p>For some, there’s nothing cooler than the idea of controlling computer software directly with your mind. No buttons, no keyboard, no mouse—just a link from your brain straight to your computer that translates thoughts into onscreen actions. Technology isn’t there yet, but NeuroSky’s Brainwave Starter Kit is taking us in that direction. Or, at least, it’s trying to. <br /><br />The main component of the Brainwave Starter Kit is the Mindwave Mobile headset. Originally released about a year ago in a slightly pricier package, the Mindwave Mobile somewhat resembles a pair of headphones, but it relies on two sensors—one that presses against your forehead and one that clips to your ear—to measure your brainwave patterns. By determining your levels of focus and/or relaxation, the headset interprets those patterns as input for various types of software. <br /><br />Though that all sounds neat in theory, it’s less enjoyable in practice. The headset is fairly unobtrusive at first, but it gets uncomfortable after extended use, particularly the ear clip. (I don’t know if you can bruise your earlobe, but if you can, I’m pretty sure mine’s been bruised.) Furthermore, I got very inconsistent results as far as my brainwaves were concerned. Certainly, the included software proved that my mental patterns were being measured and transmitted, but usually when I tried to initiate action by concentrating or relaxing, I didn’t get the desired result. I could think about maxing out my “focus meter” until I was blue in the face, but the software typically refused to acknowledge that I had achieved any significant level of concentration. (Relaxing, at least, was easier.)<br /><br />The Brainwave Starter Kit also failed to impress with its included Mac software. The Brainwave Visualizer is mildly educational, but there’s not much to do with it other than watch the colorful waveforms, and the Speed Math app is even less exciting; you merely perform math calculations and, afterward, the program displays a chart of how mentally focused you were during the proceedings—there’s no interactive component using the headset at all.<br /><br />The dodgy functionality and lackluster software could be forgiven if there were other compelling reasons to get the Brainwave Starter Kit, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. We sampled some additional Mac apps, but they mostly amounted to unsatisfying video clips that branched based on how much you were concentrating or relaxing. The Mindwave Mobile works with iOS devices, too, but that had its own set of problems. The Bluetooth headset was reluctant to pair with my iPhone, and two of the paid apps we tested (28 Spoons Later and BrainCopter) were very repetitive and got old within minutes. A third iOS app titled W.I.L.D. (which consists of a series of quirky microgames) was entertaining, but it’s hardly a compelling reason to buy the device.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. NeuroSky’s Brainwave Starter Kit is an interesting curiosity, but that’s about all it is right now. Maybe brainwave-based input will become worthwhile once the right software is released, but for now we’ll be sticking to our touchscreens and keyboards.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.neurosky.com" target="_blank">Brainwave Starter Kit</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
NeuroSky </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.neurosky.com" target="_blank">www.neurosky.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$99.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Intel processor, OS X 10.6.5 or later, Intel GMA900 graphics card or better; or iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (third gen 32GB or later) running iOS 4.3.3 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Unique, interesting, and somewhat educational.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Hard to get consistent results. Bland included software. Pricey for what it does. Uncomfortable with extended use.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/brainwave_starter_kit_review#commentsReviewsbrainwave starter kitios devicesiPadiPodiPod and iPhoneitouchneuro skyOSX 10.6.5iPadThu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:34 +0000Chris Hoffman16690 at http://www.maclife.comA-Jays Four Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/a-jays_2672_screen.jpg" width="620" height="448" /></p><p>When I was a kid, I discovered something amazing: detangler. You spray some on your hair, and voilà, a comb will run right through it no matter how tangled it was. To my knowledge, this product hasn’t been invented for headphone cables, and that’s a darn shame. But Jays seems to have solved the tangled cables problem anyway with the a-JAYS Four. These earbuds sport a flat rubber cable that just doesn’t tangle. I really tried, too. I balled them up and shoved them in my pocket, let them roll around in the bottom of my bag, never used a carrying case -- I even wore them in bed a few times. The cable is just wide and flat enough to resist knotting, and it simply doesn’t catch on itself when you ball it up. There’s no need to wrap or coil the headphones on anything. Just pull them out of wherever you stashed them, give ’em a shake, and they’re ready to go, untangled. <br /><br />The sound doesn’t live up to $300 audiophile-level earbuds, but my music sounded just as full and loud as it does through my usual ’buds (the Scosche IDR655m, which have a $99.99 MSRP but go for around $40 online). Finding the best fit does impact how much detail you can hear, so Jays includes five sets of silicone tips. The three-button remote and mic are on the right cable, around chin level—callers could hear me fine, and the buttons are easy to click to adjust the volume, pick a new track, or summon Siri. My only complaints are the logos (one below each earbud, and a third on the headphone jack—feels like overkill) and that the L-shaped headphone jack doesn’t fit with every iPhone case.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>If you hate having to untangle your earbuds every time you want to use them, these will quickly earn your undying devotion. They can be found for less than $70 online, and feel built to last.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">A-Jays Four</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Jays </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">www.jays.se</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$79.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Device with 1/8-inch headphone jacks</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Truly tangle free. Comes in white or black. Remote is easy to use.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Lots of logos. Plug on white version picked up a little blue dye from a jeans pocket.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review#commentsReviewsAudioearbudsearphonesiPadiphoneiPodiPodiPod and iPhoneitouchMacMac Book ProVideoiPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 21 Aug 2012 14:00:04 +0000Susie Ochs14747 at http://www.maclife.comScratch DJ Academy Mix Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/scratch_dj_academy_mix_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>There’s something to be said for software that does one thing well. Scratch DJ Academy MIX addresses a very specific need: it automatically analyzes songs--especially dance-friendly electronic tunes--for key and beats per minute, and then offers a limited selection of tools for joining matching songs together in DJ-style mixes.<br />&nbsp;<br />And it does this quite well. Import songs into the MIX library, and after just a moment, the app brings up the tune’s BPM and key. Drag a song into the mix list, and the app highlights other songs that match either or both of those criteria. Pick a match-friendly tune, and the app intelligently blends the end of the first song into the beginning of the second, buffing over minor differences in tempo with a surprisingly successful beat-matching system. For further control, you can choose when in the first tune the second tune begins, adjust the length of the crossfade, choose the crossfade type, and even nudge the second track in 1/32 increments in case the two don’t line up exactly right.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/scratch_screen.png" width="620" height="413" /></p><p><strong>Mix as m</strong><strong>any tunes as you'd like. Each crossfade can be customized in length, position, and type, allowing for many different effects.</strong></p><p><br />As I say, it does all this well...when used as expected. The trouble arises when importing music that isn’t as consistent in key or beat as dance tracks--say, any jazz or rock number. In these cases, both the key and the BPM can be wildly inaccurate, making for some laughably inappropriate matches. You can adjust the BPM and key on a song-by-song basis, but this significant extra step is only useful if you have prior knowledge of the problematic song. That’s a shame, because one of the great joys of listening to a skilled DJ is hearing a mix of two songs that you’d never think would go together. <br /><br />But that can be excused as not being the main focus of the software. Less excusable are the app’s more fundamental deficiencies, chief among these being the incomprehensible choice to not give the user any option of where in the latter song to begin the mix. Also problematic is the fact that, while the app can export your finished mix as an MP3, it does so only at a paltry 128Kbps bit rate. (Fortunately, WAV is also an export option.) <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line.</strong> For would-be DJs with a large library of easily analyzed electronic tracks, MIX is a powerful tool for developing new mixes. But it’s less friendly to non-electronic libraries, and hence a lot less useful as more than a curiosity.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.sdamix.com" target="_blank">Scratch DJ Academy Mix</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Stanton </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.sdamix.com" target="_blank">www.sdamix.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$49.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Intel processor, Mac OS 10.5.7 or later, 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Surprisingly accurate key and tempo analysis--for electronic tracks. Impressive auto-crossfade, especially for tunes of slightly different tempos.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No control over where mix starts in second song. Very inaccurate results for non-electronic tunes. Ugly interface.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/scratch_dj_academy_mix_review#commentsReviewsDJiPadiphoneitouchlibraryMixmixiMusicscratchiPadiPhoneiPodMacFri, 17 Aug 2012 14:02:58 +0000Joe Rybicki14792 at http://www.maclife.comHow to Use Documents in iCloudhttp://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_use_documents_icloud
<!--paging_filter--><p>When you open an Apple-built application on your Mac that supports the new Documents in the Cloud feature, you are greeted with the new iCloud document pane. You need to have the Documents &amp; Data option enabled in the iCloud System Preferences in order to use this feature, but once you enable it, it can make your work life much simpler.&nbsp;</p><h3>Opening Documents Stored in the Cloud</h3><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/documents_in_the_cloud_1.png" width="620" height="422" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you have a document already stored in your iCloud account, you can select the file and open it directly from the iCloud document pane in the app that is currently opened. Only files that can be opened by the particular app are shown. The last modified date will be listed under the document. These documents are stored locally, but synced between your devices automatically by iCloud.</p><h3>Saving Documents to the Cloud</h3><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/documents_in_the_cloud_3_new.png" width="620" height="750" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Saving a document to iCloud in Mountain Lion takes only a few clicks.</strong></p><p>There are three ways to get documents from iCloud-compatible apps into your iCloud account. The first is to create a new document and navigate to File &gt; Save. From the Where drop-down menu, choose iCloud, specify a name, and click the Save button. The file will be automatically pushed to iCloud.<br /><br />If the document is already saved locally, you can drag and drop it onto the iCloud document pane to automatically upload it to iCloud. You can also use the AutoSave drop-down menu in the title bar of the app window. Select the disclosure triangle that appears after mousing over, and then select the “Move to iCloud” option.</p><h3>Organizing Your Stored Documents</h3><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/documents_in_the_cloud_6_0.png" width="620" height="422" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>You can change the view from icon to table view by selecting between the two view buttons at the bottom of the iCloud document plane.</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/documents_in_the_cloud_7_0.png" width="620" height="422" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Need to find a particular file? Give the search bar a try. It can search both the filename and the content of the documents stored in iCloud.</strong></p><p>Good organization is key to finding documents quickly. Documents in iCloud are arranged similarly to the way apps are in iOS. Files can be dumped into the main document area, or they can be arranged into a single-level folder with a name.<br />&nbsp;<br />Drag and drop one file on top of another to create a folder. Right-click the folder and choose Rename to change the name of the folder. You can also right-click any file or folder to duplicate it, move it to the Trash, or open it with Quick Look. You can type a search term into the text field in the upper-right corner of the iCloud document pane to search through both the names and contents of stored files.</p><h3>Safari (iCloud Tabs and Reading List)</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/safari_2.png" width="620" height="166" /></h3><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Only devices with currently opened tabs will appear in the iCloud Tabs listing.</strong></p><p>iCloud’s initial Safari support gave us a rudimentary version of Reading List (an easy-to-use way to bookmark items that you want to read later, that syncs to multiple devices). In Mountain Lion, Apple took this feature one step further by adding the ability to view Reading List items while offline. When you add an item to the Reading List, the entire webpage is processed and downloaded onto the Mac so that when you feel the urge to read, you can, even if you’re not connected to the internet. This feature is extremely useful for flights without any onboard internet connection.<br /><br />Safari in Mountain Lion also brings a new iCloud feature called iCloud Tabs. This feature automatically syncs the opened tabs and webpages from your Macs (and eventually, iOS 6 devices) to iCloud. What this means is that if you are on one Mac, you can see and load the exact webpages that are loaded on other Macs. This is nifty for when you forget to bookmark important pages. In Safari, clicking the small iCloud button in the toolbar presents you with a list of your devices with opened tabs. Clicking any of the webpage titles loads the page in the browser on your local machine without harming the currently opened Safari tabs on the remote machine.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_use_documents_icloud#commentsapple cloudiCloudiPadiphoneiPoditouchMaciPadiPhoneiPodMacHow-TosWed, 15 Aug 2012 17:15:15 +0000MacLife Staff14772 at http://www.maclife.comAmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/amazonbasics_bluetooth_keyboard_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/amazonbtkb_screen1.png" width="620" height="441" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard is...well, basic.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Real talk time: the iPad’s onscreen keyboard isn’t the world’s greatest typing tool. It functions admirably for short tappings, but for anything longer than an email, using a virtual keyboard can be an exercise in frustration. But many solutions to this problem sacrifice one of the iPad’s greatest features: its portability. Keyboard-packing cases are nifty, but most add so much weight and bulk to the svelte device that you might as well get a netbook--or deal with constantly swapping your iPad in and out of different cases.<br />&nbsp;<br />Enter Amazon (yes, that Amazon) and a recent entry in its still-pretty-new private label, AmazonBasics. The imaginatively named “AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard for Apple iPad, iPhone” squeezes a nearly full-size keyboard onto a slab barely half an inch longer than the iPad itself. With a very low profile, this little keyboard offers better key response and spacing than most netbooks, in a form factor that’s easy to slip into a briefcase or shoulder bag.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/amazonbtkb-side_screen2.png" width="620" height="209" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>It's thin, it's light, and it's cheaper than the $69 Apple Wireless Keyboard.</strong></p><p><br />The keys boast a satisfyingly bouncy feel and a nice matte texture. But the real achievement here is the excellent size and spacing. The keys are virtually identical in size to a full-size keyboard, with spacing maybe only 10 percent tighter than other chicklet-style keyboards. That makes for dead-simple touch typing with almost no adjustment period.<br /><br />Of course, some sacrifices were made. Chief among these is the unusual arrow key arrangement, where the stacked Up and Down keys are half the height of other keys, leading to the occasional mixup. But beyond that, you’ll get satisfyingly large Tab, Caps, Shift, Backspace, and Enter keys, as well as a full suite of Command, Control, and Option/Alt keys. <br /><br />The keyboard even boasts some iOS-specific hotkeys, including a Home button (which allows double-tap for easy app switching), a dedicated Search button, and a Show/Hide Keyboard button in case you need to switch quickly between virtual and physical keyboards. (Better still: the external keyboard allows for many shortcuts not otherwise available in iOS, such as Command-C and -V to copy and paste, and Shift-Arrow to select text.) Also present are volume and media controls that ought to work on many other Bluetooth devices. And that’s another great feature of this keyboard: it’s not just for iOS devices. Though it only remembers one device at a time, you can quickly and easily switch to a computer, PS3, or other Bluetooth-enabled device, generally by simply typing a string of four numbers on the keyboard itself. <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>Of course, nothing’s perfect. AmazonBasic’s offering is a fairly sturdy-feeling device, but it’s thin and light enough that a protective case seems prudent--yet none is included. Lock/unlock and app-switching buttons would be a welcome addition. But overall, AmazonBasics does an admirable job of packing in functionality and comfort into a surprisingly small and affordable package.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">AmazonBasics Bluetooth</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Amazon </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$44.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Bluetooth-enabled device</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Excellent key size, spacing, and response. iOS-specific function keys. Tiny form factor. Inexpensive.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Odd arrow-key layout. No carrying case. iOS not perfectly optimized for keyboard control.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/amazonbasics_bluetooth_keyboard_review#commentsReviewsAmazonamazon basicsbluetoothiOSiPadiphoneiPoditouchKeyboardmacbook proiPadiPhoneiPodMacWed, 15 Aug 2012 14:00:57 +0000Joe Rybicki14752 at http://www.maclife.com13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/13inch_macbook_air_and_13inch_macbook_pro_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/pro_screen.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>When Apple refreshed its laptop line in June 2012, the entry-level price of the 13-inch MacBook Air came down by $100, to just $1,199. Surprise, that’s also the price of the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro. We can’t remember Apple having two entry-level machines like this--in the days of the white plastic MacBook, that was always the rock-bottom-priced option, and until this revision, the MacBook Air was always slightly more expensive than the MacBook Pro, since the Air’s fancy, shrunken innards cost a premium. So now the question becomes how to choose.<br /><br />We took the entry-level $1,199 mid-2012 2.5GHz Core i5 MacBook Pro for a spin, and compared it against a $1,499 1.8GHz Core i5 MacBook Air just purchased by a staffer. (The specs on our $1,499 Air are nearly identical to the entry-level $1,199 13-inch MacBook Air, though--the $1,499 machine has 256GB of flash storage compared to the $1,199 Air’s 128GB, but that’s it.) Our conclusion: It’s a great time to be a Mac user, because both these machines deliver outstanding performance for your dollar.<br />&nbsp;<br />The MacBook Pro’s main benefit is its completeness. Just about everything you need is here. That starts with plenty of storage thanks to the 5400RPM, 500GB hard drive. For $100 you can upgrade to a 750GB hard drive, or you can opt for a solid-state drive, at premiums of $200 for 128GB, $500 for 256GB, or $1,000 for 512GB--or open the case and drop in an aftermarket SSD yourself. The MacBook Air has speedy flash-based storage, just not as much of it: as mentioned, you get 128GB in the $1,199 MacBook Air (which isn’t upgradeable from Apple), or 256GB in the $1,499 model (which you can upgrade to 512GB for $500). It’s possible to upgrade the storage in your MacBook Air on your own, but it’s trickier than on the MacBook Pro, because Apple uses flash memory “sticks” in the Air models, instead of a regular 2.5-inch SSD, which are more abundant on the market.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/air_screen.png" width="620" height="439" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Which Mac are you?</strong></p><p>MacBook Pro wins the ports race too. Both machines have two USB 3.0 ports, one Thunderbolt, a headphone port, and an SDXC card slot, but the MacBook Pro adds Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, and that handy LED battery-life indicator. And it’s got an optical drive--in fact, the 13-inch and 15-inch (non-Retina) MacBook Pros are Apple’s only portable machines left that have one. We don’t burn a lot of discs, but if you’re a frequent ripper, having a built-in drive might be important to you.<br /><br />Graphics are the same. Each has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip, and can support the built-in display’s native resolution plus a 2560x1800 external display. But the native resolutions don’t match. The thinner MacBook Air has a higher-res display: 1440x900 to the MacBook Pro’s 1280x800. That’s not a huge difference unless you’re stepping down from a 15-inch laptop--the 13-inch MacBook Air has the same number of pixels as the 15-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro. <br /><br />Both machines pack dual-core Intel Core i5 processors, with the Pro’s 2.5GHz Core i5 besting the Air’s 1.8GHz Core i5 in Geekbench, 7,478 to 6,809. But the Air’s flash storage lets it start up faster, in just 20.9 seconds, while the Pro took 32.5. Obviously, the Air has much faster read and write speeds (296MBps read, 261MBps write) than the Pro (93MBps read, 87MBps write), but you might be willing to sacrifice that speed for more storage space, depending on your needs. The final piece of the puzzle is battery life. The Pro has room for a much bigger battery, a 63.5 watt-hour battery rated for 7 hours of wireless productivity. We got just over 5 hours of normal usage, and 4 hours, 21 minutes of continuously looping a MP4 video in QuickTime. The diminutive Air’s 35-watt hour battery is rated for 5 hours of wireless productivity, and we got very close to that: 4 hours, 9 minutes of regular use. <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>We heartily recommend both--if you’re a road warrior, the 2.96-pound MacBook Air seems to disappear in a laptop bag without sacrificing screen size. But if you need a lot of storage, FireWire, or an optical drive, you’ll be glad to pack the 4.5-pound 13-inch MacBook Pro, which lasts longer on a charge too. Since we mostly deal with small files and love flash storage, we’ll give the edge to the MacBook Air. But your mileage may vary.</p><p><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u32/hairline_622.gif" width="622" height="5" /></p> <p><strong>13-Inch 2.5GHZ Core i5 Macbook Pro<br /></strong></p> <p><strong>Apple</strong><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank"><strong>www.apple.com</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>$1,199</p> <p><strong>Specs: </strong>MB L3 cache, 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, 13.3-inch 1280x800 glossy display, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive, MagSafe port, Thunderbolt port, two USB 3 ports, FireWire 800 port, headphone port, SDXC card slot, 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, 720p FaceTime camera, backlit keyboard, stereo speakers with subwoofer, omnidirectional microphone<br /></p> <p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/great.png" width="200" height="36" class="graphic-right" /><strong>Pros: </strong>User-serviceable RAM and hard drive. USB 3. MacBook Pro is Apple’s only remaining laptop with built-in FireWire 800 and optical drive.</p> <p><strong>Cons: </strong>Hard drive slow compared to SSD-based Mac laptops. Lower display resolution than 13-inch MacBook Air.<strong><br /></strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u32/hairline_622.gif" width="622" height="5" /></p> <p><strong>13-Inch 1.8GHZ Core i5 Macbook Air</strong><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Apple</strong><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank"><strong>www.apple.com</strong></a><strong><a href="http://www.xtand.net" target="_blank"></a></strong></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>$1,499</p><p><strong>Specs: </strong>1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache, 4GB 1600MHz DDR3-L RAM, 13.3-inch 1440x900 glossy display, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 256GB flash storage, MagSafe 2 port, Thunderbolt port, two USB 3 ports, headphone port, SDXC card slot, 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, 720p FaceTime camera, backlit keyboard, stereo speakers, omnidirectional microphone</p> <p><strong><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/excellent_0.png" width="200" height="33" class="graphic-right" />Pros: </strong>Higher resolution than 13-inch MacBook Pro. Same prices (starting at $1,199) as 13-inch MacBook Pro. USB 3. Flash storage.</p><p><strong>Cons:</strong> MagSafe 2 port needs a $9.99 adapter to work with Thunderbolt Display or old MagSafe adapters.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/13inch_macbook_air_and_13inch_macbook_pro_review#commentsReviewsappleiPadiphoneitouchMacmacbook airmacbook proiPadiPhoneiPodMacFri, 10 Aug 2012 14:00:44 +0000Susie Ochs14771 at http://www.maclife.comA-Jays Four Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review_0
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/a-jays_2672_screen.jpg" width="620" height="448" /></p><p>When I was a kid, I discovered something amazing: detangler. You spray some on your hair, and voilà, a comb will run right through it no matter how tangled it was. To my knowledge, this product hasn’t been invented for headphone cables, and that’s a darn shame. But Jays seems to have solved the tangled cables problem anyway with the a-JAYS Four. These earbuds sport a flat rubber cable that just doesn’t tangle. I really tried, too. I balled them up and shoved them in my pocket, let them roll around in the bottom of my bag, never used a carrying case -- I even wore them in bed a few times. The cable is just wide and flat enough to resist knotting, and it simply doesn’t catch on itself when you ball it up. There’s no need to wrap or coil the headphones on anything. Just pull them out of wherever you stashed them, give ’em a shake, and they’re ready to go, untangled. <br /><br />The sound doesn’t live up to $300 audiophile-level earbuds, but my music sounded just as full and loud as it does through my usual ’buds (the Scosche IDR655m, which have a $99.99 MSRP but go for around $40 online). Finding the best fit does impact how much detail you can hear, so Jays includes five sets of silicone tips. The three-button remote and mic are on the right cable, around chin level--callers could hear me fine, and the buttons are easy to click to adjust the volume, pick a new track, or summon Siri. My only complaints are the logos (one below each earbud, and a third on the headphone jack--feels like overkill) and that the L-shaped headphone jack doesn’t fit with every iPhone case.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>If you hate having to untangle your earbuds every time you want to use them, these will quickly earn your undying devotion. They can be found for less than $70 online, and feel built to last.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">A-Jays Four</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">
Jays </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">www.jays.se</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">
$79.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Device with 1/8-inch headphone jacks</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Truly tangle free. Comes in white or black. Remote is easy to use.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Lots of logos. Plug on white version picked up a little blue dye from a jeans pocket.</p> </div>
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</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review_0#commentsReviewsAudioearbudsearphonesiPadiphoneiPodiPodiPod and iPhoneitouchMacMac Book ProVideoiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 09 Aug 2012 18:01:20 +0000Susie Ochs14748 at http://www.maclife.com8 Free Plug-ins for GarageBandhttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_free_plugins_garageband
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/zebralette.jpg" width="620" height="334" /></p><p>Once you’ve played out the instruments and effects built into Apple’s GarageBand software, you’re be delighted to know that you’ve got lots of other sonic options that can easily be added to your Mac, and many of them won’t even cost you a dime. Read on to find out what cool new sounds you can add to your band without breaking (or even entering) the bank.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_free_plugins_garageband#commentsGalleryapplecrystalGaragebandiPadiphoneitouchMacMeldaProductionsNative Intruments ReaktorPlayerTyrell Nexus 6zebraletteZebrletteiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 06 Aug 2012 21:38:26 +0000David Biedny14705 at http://www.maclife.comHow to Work with Video Effectshttp://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_work_video_effects
<!--paging_filter--><h3>Give your movies and entirely new look and feel with iMovie filters</h3><h3><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.anno_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></h3><p>More often than not, when you work on a project, be it a home movie or a short film, you’ll add clips and slowly build your film. But you may not think of altering the colors and style of your work, relying on the natural lighting conditions you were presented with on the day.<br /><br />But adding filters to your visuals can help set the mood just as strongly as applying a musical score. Combine the two together and you can influence your viewers, so they feel how you want them to feel--and isn’t that the whole point of filmmaking: to give those who watch your work an emotional journey? Without it, chances are they’ll engage less with your film.<br /><br />But just because you can apply effects, doesn’t mean you should. Use them only when you feel such a visual change would enhance your story. If you just add a filter for the sake of it, you run the risk of degrading your film. But if you use the Dream filter for flashback sequences, for instance, it will make it easier to discern which sections are in the past and which are current.</p><h3>What You’ll Need:</h3><p>&gt;&gt; iMovie'11 version 9.0.4 or later, a project in progress and/ or clips imported into an Event, a basic grasp of the interface.</p><h3>1. Revealing the Inspector</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step1_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Start a new project or open up an existing one. In the Projects section, double-click on a clip you’d like to alter, to reveal the Inspector window. This window has three tabs at the top labelled Clip, Video and Audio. The pre-selected section (here, we’ve used Clip) is actually the one you need. See that the Video Effect has a large button currently set to None. Click on it.</p><h3>2. Previewing Filters</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step2_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Clicking on it flips the Inspector around to reveal 19 filters to apply to your footage. Move your cursor over one of the small thumbnails to see a preview of the effect in the main viewer. This helps you decide which filter will work best for that particular shot, as you can experiment with different ones in seconds.</p><h3>3. Instant Playback</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step3_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Click a filter to apply it instantly to your clip. The process also flips the Inspector window back to its original side. You can then play your project back with the filter applied. There’s no need to render the effect: iMovie shows you all the changes in real time. Alter other clips with different filters. You’ll be able to play them instantly.</p><h3>4. One at a Time</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step4_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Open up the Inspector once more. Notice that the Video Effect section bears your filter’s name. Click on it and choose another, to replace the current filter with the new one. You can’t apply multiple filters to clips unless you export modified clips and then re-import them, but that’s time-consuming. Instead, stick to one filter per clip.</p><h3>5. Gradual Filters</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step5_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>You cannot tweak the effect or modify any parameters. It’s the full effect, or nothing at all. You can, however, apply the filter slowly over time. Choose a clip you’d like to apply an effect to and add it to your project. Mouse over it until you find a place where you’d like the effect to start. ≈-click there and choose Split Clip.</p><h3>6. Add a Transition</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step6_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Reveal the Transitions section by going to Window &gt; Transitions or by using the Command + 4 keyboard shortcut. Select the most basic one: Cross Dissolve. Drag it from the Transitions section onto your project. As you do, notice a thick green line. When that line appears between the two parts of the clip, you can cut, releasing the mouse button.</p><h3>7. Change Over Time</h3><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/mac249.tut_imovie.step7_.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>Add your filter to the second part of your clip and play back the sequence. You can alter the speed by altering the transition’s duration: double-click it in the Project to bring up its Inspector window. Change the duration, but make sure Applies to all transitions is un-ticked so as not to alter other transitions in the video.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_work_video_effects#commentsiMovieiPadiphoneitouchMaciPadiPhoneiPodMacHow-TosMon, 23 Jul 2012 18:02:59 +0000Steve Paris14598 at http://www.maclife.comSteam Summer Sale: Great Mac Games For Under 10 Buckshttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/steam_summer_sale_great_mac_games_under_10_bucks
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/screen_0.png" width="620" height="388" /></p><p>A little later than usual, but nonetheless awesome, the annual Steam Summer Sale officially kicked off this past weekend. Windows-compatible titles still make up the lion's share of computer games, but thanks in no small part to Valve's desktop-client, you'll find no shortage of excellent downloadable games on sale this week. Here's a selection of some of the best Mac-ready titles for less than $10.<br /><br />Tip: The Steam Summer Sale runs through July 22. Check out the Steam store frequently for current pricing, as Valve is offering temporary "flash sales" where the savings are even greater.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/steam_summer_sale_great_mac_games_under_10_bucks#commentsGalleryAppsgamesiPadiphoneiPod and iPhoneitouchMaciPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 19 Jul 2012 18:01:41 +0000Matt Clark14587 at http://www.maclife.com